CO-ORDINATING ART ACROSS THE PRIMARY SCHOOL. A SUBJECT LEADER’S HANDBOOK.
By Robert Clement, Judith Piotrowski and Ivy Roberts.
Falmer Press 12.95

The teaching of art in the primary years lays the foundation for creativity, art appreciation, imagination, intellectual stimulation and the self-confidence to express ideas in later life.

A school environment that promotes the central role of art is the responsibility of the arts co-ordinator, whose commitment, enthusiasm and knowledge must win support of colleagues, parents and children.

Co-ordinating art across the primary school aims to help co-ordinators improve standards of teaching and quality of learning through good management skills and should also prove helpful to heads, deputy heads and teachers.

The book is full of ideas on how to teach art imaginatively and successfully, and outlines links to other subjects. A useful section gives guidance on school policies and schemes of work, and on implementing the art policy throughout the school. It offers invaluable advice on making art meaningful and enjoyable and is rich with pupils’ drawings that demonstrate how children progress from Reception to Year 6. I shall treasure this book.

is a former primary art co-ordinator and the selector of 1998 Sainsbury’s pictures for schools